My kids’ elementary school is currently having a food drive, to help stock our local food pantry. As I was gathering items from my pantry this morning, for my kids to take to school, I was reminded of an article I read last year that shaped the way I view food drives.
Last year I came across this article from Lynn at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures and it really had an impact on how I choose what foods to donate to food drives. I thought with Thanksgiving right around the corner, this would be a good time to share this article with you all.
I will admit to being one of those people that used to quickly grab a few items from my pantry, with little thought as to who would be receiving the items. I thought that just giving any foods would be “doing my part”. While all donations are fantastic, I never really thought about what it would be like to be on the receiving end of the food donations.
I know that there are many families that would consider any donated food a blessing, but Lynn really made me think about what kind of meal I would want if I couldn’t afford to buy a Thanksgiving dinner on my own. Or Christmas dinner. Or any time of the year, really.
So, before you start gathering items for food donations, I highly encourage you to read this article. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and really think about what you’re giving. It just might change your perspective. 
And remember…you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a difference. If you shop smart, a little bit of money can go a long way. All of the items shown in the photo above totaled less than $9, even with some name brand items thrown in! Don’t be afraid to buy mark-down or clearance items…just be sure to watch those expiration dates.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That post had more impact than I ever imagined it would. The response I got, and people like you that shared it, amazes me. Sharing our experiences is not always easy, but when it changes peoples lives it is so worth it.